Unconventional Times with Richard Gordon

Freedom isn’t always visible until it’s taken away—what happens when an accomplished family suddenly loses everything and must start over in a new land? In this inspiring episode, Richard Gordon sits down with longtime friend Gabrial Farahan to trace his family’s remarkable journey from deep-rooted Iranian Jewish heritage to building a new life in America after the 1979 revolution. Gabrial Farahan...

Perseverance turns opportunity into achievement—just ask Lidia Fernandez, who turned her journey from the Dominican Republic into a powerful story about making the most of the American dream. In this first episode of four celebrating America's 250th birthday, Richard Gordon sits down with Lidia Fernandez to explore what it's like to immigrate for education, navigate a new language and culture, and...

What if America’s energy future—and millions of jobs—hinged on one hard decision in a small Michigan town? In this powerful episode of Unconventional Times, Richard Gordon sits down with transformational leader Jennifer Granholm—former Michigan Governor and U.S. Secretary of Energy—to reveal how the loss of a single factory unraveled the heart of American manufacturing, and how bold decisions in t...

What if the Democratic Party’s “radical” center is actually its hidden powerhouse? This episode of Unconventional Times explodes the myth that moderates are an endangered species, as Richard Gordon sits down with Debbie Cox Bultan—CEO of New Deal and a champion of pragmatic, center-left leadership—to reveal how the real future of the party might surprise you. Key highlights include: Debbie Cox Bul...

What does it take to rescue 3,000 lives from imminent massacre—and what lessons can it teach today’s policymakers? On this episode of Unconventional Times, Richard Gordon welcomes Jonathan Winer, former U.S. Special Envoy to Libya, whose extraordinary behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts not only averted tragedy for Iranian dissidents in Iraq, but also shaped policy across some of the world’s hott...

What if the fate of America’s political future hinged on the hidden tragedy of redistricting—and the only person with both the insider experience and outsider’s humility to reveal its impact is a Lebanese immigrant who once carried $2,000 and a dream into the U.S.? In this episode of Unconventional Times, Richard Gordon sits down with David Ramadan—the first adult immigrant ever elected to Virgini...

Did you know JFK's iconic words, "Ask not what your country can do for you," actually originated from a Lebanese poet? In this compelling episode of Unconventional Times, Richard Gordon sits down with Lebanese-born scholar and former legislator David Ramadan for an eye-opening exploration of Lebanon’s hidden war on Israel’s northern border. As international headlines focus on Iran an...

What if the biggest hurdle to building a better future for both business and the environment isn’t political gridlock—but the way we write the rules? In this episode of Unconventional Times, Richard Gordon sits down with Melanie Loyzim, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, for a revealing conversation from the Environmental Council of the States conference in Savannah,...

What if the very data that protects your environment was once scattered and nearly unusable—and now, thanks to new technology, it could finally shape smarter decisions for your community? In this special episode, recorded live from Savannah at the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) meeting, Richard Gordon sits down with leading environmental decision-makers to uncover candid insights into...

What if the biggest threat to environmental progress isn’t climate change itself, but the way we talk about it—and how we choose to fund its solutions? In this episode of Unconventional Times, Richard Gordon takes you straight to Savannah, Georgia for a front-row seat at the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) conference, where leaders are rethinking the connections between economic growth...

What if government decisions that shape our environment—and our future—were being made with decades-old paperwork and disconnected data? In this episode recorded live in Savannah, Georgia at the 2026 Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) Spring Meeting, Richard Gordon sits down with Alicia J. Keyes, founder of Apaluma and former New Mexico Secretary of Economic Development, to reveal how frac...

What if the most important lessons about leadership came not from high-profile successes, but from navigating the unseen, impossible moments? In part 2 of Richard Gordon’s conversation with former Chattanooga Mayor and U.S. Department of Agriculture official Andy Berke, Andy shares an uplifting look at making tough calls under pressure—and what true service really means. Andy Berke opens up about...

Would you ever expect a mayor to say, "The best job I'll ever have is running my hometown"? Andy Berke—former State Senator, Mayor of Chattanooga, and key player in expanding broadband across America—shares the personal journey, surprising decisions, and tough leadership moments that shaped his life in public service. Andy opens up about his unexpected return to Chattanooga, the pivo...

What if everything you thought you knew about the war in Iran—nuclear threats, regime change, and who’s really running the show—was turned on its head? Host Richard Gordon brings back Middle East expert Ido Aharoni and seasoned State Department negotiator Frank Lowenstein for a candid, unfiltered conversation about the continuing war in Iran that reveals what’s really at stake, what world leaders...

What if the world woke up to discover the United States and Israel had launched a full-scale attack on Iran—toppling its leaders and altering the balance of power in the Middle East overnight? In this timely episode of Unconventional Times , host Richard Gordon brings you inside the war room with two rare insiders: Ambassador Ido Aharoni and veteran peace negotiator Frank Lowenstein. Together, the...

What if we told you the “rural-urban divide” isn't just about geography—but a political and cultural chasm that is shaping America's future in ways most people have never considered? Host Richard Gordon sits down with Anthony Flaccavento—farmer, author, former congressional candidate, and founder of the Rural-Urban Bridge Initiative (RUBI)—to dig deep into the roots and ramifications of Am...

What happens when the leader of a country is snatched from his own nation and imprisoned in New York—and the justification is just: "We want their oil"? In Part 2 of Richard Gordon's gripping interview with Frank Lowenstein, former State Department official and diplomat, Unconventional Times dives deep into the latest seismic shifts shaking U.S. foreign policy. This episode exposes h...

What if the very foundation of the world order built after World War II is breaking apart—right before our eyes? In this eye-opening episode of Unconventional Times , host Richard Gordon sits down with renowned foreign policy expert Frank Lowenstein—who’s negotiated at the highest levels of government, advised secretaries of state, and stood at the heart of Middle East peace efforts—to unpack the...

What if everything you thought you knew about 2025 was wrong? This episode of “Unconventional Times” pulls back the curtain on one of the most tumultuous years in modern American history—from the inauguration of Donald Trump and the sweeping expansion of presidential power, to shocking moments of political violence and unprecedented government shutdowns. Host Richard Gordon sits down with Republic...

What if the biggest threat to American democracy isn’t who wins—but just how few of us actually vote? In this eye-opening episode of Unconventional Times, host Richard Gordon sits down with Tom Lopach, President and CEO of the Voter Participation Center and the Center for Voter Information. Together, they dig into the shocking reality that less than a third of eligible Americans actually vote for...

What happens when the President of the United States puts college presidents in the crosshairs—and suddenly, the name of your alma mater’s president is front-page news? In this riveting episode of Unconventional Times , host Richard Gordon sits down with Mark Gearan, a two-time college president, White House veteran, and former Director of the Peace Corps, for a candid conversation about the futur...

What if the most dramatic government shutdown in U.S. history achieved absolutely nothing—and BOTH sides admit it? In this eye-opening episode of “Unconventional Times,” host Richard Gordon brings together two political heavyweights—former Ohio mayor and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Nan Whaley, and Republican former Congressman John Faso—for an unfiltered conversation you won’t hear anywhere e...

What happens when a federal shutdown drags past 30 days, and millions stand on the brink—while the White House bets on a new kind of political brinkmanship? In this episode of Unconventional Times , host Richard Gordon pulls back the curtain on an unprecedented moment in American politics, joined by a powerhouse GOP panel: Jayne Millerick, Keith Gardner, and John R. Hammond, III—leaders who’ve act...

What if the world’s most horrific terror attack against Jews since the Holocaust could have been prevented—not by better intelligence, but by a simple “failure of imagination”? In this explosive episode of Unconventional Times, host Richard Gordon sits down with Tom Nides, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, for a rare, brutally honest conversation about October 7th, Israel’s military response, and...

What if the President is sending the National Guard into American cities…for political theater, not public safety? In this no-holds-barred episode of Unconventional Times, host Richard Gordon sits down once again with Dennis Burke, former U.S. Attorney and senior advisor at the highest levels of state and federal government. Dennis pulls back the curtain on the real reasons behind the deployment o...